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Enhancement of magnetic biochar on nitrogen removal performance of Anammox granular sludge under acute polystyrene nanoplastics stress
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Tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) can disrupt the helpful bacteria used in wastewater treatment plants to remove harmful nitrogen pollution from water, potentially making these systems less effective. This study found that adding a special charcoal-like material (magnetic biochar) can protect these bacteria by soaking up the nanoplastics and helping the microbes stay healthy and productive. This matters because as plastic pollution grows, keeping our water treatment systems working properly is essential for clean water and, ultimately, for reducing the plastic particles that end up in our environment and potentially our bodies.
Abstract BACKGROUND Nanoplastics pose a significant threat to the efficiency and stability of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox). This study investigated the nitrogen removal efficiency, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion, microbial community, and enhancement mechanisms of Anammox with magnetic biochar (MBC) under sudden exposure to high‐concentration polystyrene nanoplastics (PS‐NPs). RESULTS Results demonstrated that sudden exposure to PS‐NPs at 300 mg L −1 distinctly reduced the nitrogen removal efficiency of Anammox, while the addition of MBC could significantly alleviate the inhibition. Fourier transform infrared analysis manifested that MBC could adsorb the PS‐NPs by electrostatic attraction, surface complexation and π – π interactions. MBC could stimulate anaerobic ammonium‐oxidizing bacteria to secrete a large amount of EPS (including protein, humic acids, and cytochrome c). Microbial community analysis showed that the addition of MBC could maintain the stability of microbial community structure. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that addition of MBC significantly enhanced the nitrogen metabolism pathway and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism pathway of Anammox granular sludge (AnGS) under acute PS‐NPs stress, thereby improving its nitrogen removal efficiency and structural stability. CONCLUSION This study provided valuable insights into the response characteristics and enhancement mechanism of MBC for AnGS exposed to PS‐NPs, which may be helpful for the application of Anammox in actual wastewater treatment. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
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